Lately, a lot of Turkish columnists and writers placed well written, open-minded and with sincere interest in the Armenian-Turkish conflict, columns in Turkish Daily News.
The last one, yesterday, came out the pen of a Turkish researcher who converted to Christianity.
Here the article:
Rehumanizing Armenians and Turks
Monday, November 12, 2007
Ziya MERAL
You are not alone if you have not heard the word ''rehumanization'' before. Unlike its twin sister ''dehumanization,'' rehumanization is not a popular tool in politics and identity construction. We would rather build identities or pursue political power by stripping the other from their humanity in order to legitimize our superiority over them. We are more inclined to demonize, discredit, and humiliate the other in order to win an argument or establish our ''rights'' over theirs. Rehumanization is restoring the other's dignity and humanity and attributing the other the same rights ''we'' have or demand. Without rehumanization, there can never be reconciliation simply because without accepting each other as human beings and acknowledging the other's voice, we can never expect that the other will hear our pain and concerns and be moved by it to act unselfishly. Dehumanization is plentiful in Armenian-Turkish relations as each side still wages war for the exclusive rights to be heard. That is why debating sides tend to channel their energy only to disprove the other's historical account in order to prove the world how ''immoral'' or ''deceptive'' the other is. Continue reading.
In fact, I expected tons of reactions on all these articles. But nothing. Until yesterday when Hovhannes NIKOGHOSYAN gave his opinion:
An Armenian responds to Birand, others.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Hovhannes NIKOGHOSYAN
Well, Armenian-Turkish relations seem to be the urgent issue in regional politics (in the South Caucasus) and even more urgent than the conflicts in this area. Some people think, and I will rank on a par with them, that within the resolution of this old controversy between two nations – Armenians and Turks – lies the key to other conflicts as to the Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) conflict – I will say for sure.
So, what exact prejudices have been preventing the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations? Here I want to reply to some arguments made by Mr. Birand (brought up in the TDN article on 16.10.2007) and other authors who have some judgments over the above mentioned issue.
At least under two statements by Mr. Mehmet Ali Birand I will sign in with no eye open: "Let's get rid of articles like the 301 of the Turkish Penal Code. Let's convince our Azerbaijani brothers. Azerbaijani brothers should be made to change their mind.” These are the first obstacles for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. Continue reading
When I finished reading the last article, I thought: 'Is this all?', 'is there nothing more to answer, discuss'? Anyway I hope that in the future there will be a lively dialogue.
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13 comments:
Dear author of the comment!!!
Thanks for expressing your view on my article.
nevertheless i want to say that there is really a lot to debate and discuss, but it is not real to write about all this in one article!!!
best regards,
Hovhannes Nikoghosyan
Dear Hovhannes,
It's a start. Hope that bloggers like oneworld.media will continue on the path, which is the same one as Turkish Daily.
Dear Hovhannes, we can expect more articles by you in TDN?
The reason why I posted both articles: while reading yours, it suddenly stopped...
regards
As some of your readers maybe still remember me, I was planning to launch a own blog, but since I am in a new relation with an Armenian American, he, I am a Turkish yank, no time left.
But I feel where you heading too..Hans...but be patient...
I wonder if I will get the usual hate mail tomorrow when I post my article on Arabisto somewhat discussing the G word.
I like to hear sane voices weigh in on their perspectives and maybe all this discussion can force the political leaders to the table.
It's become very evident that people, not the politicians, will have to start the underground movement of eliminating the fear of dealing with the truth, whatever it may be . . .
I call it the demagogue.
When r we to concentrate on the present, and not the past?
If I remember correctly, there are far too pressing issues in Turkey to address . . .
like the state of Galatasaray . . . What is wrong with my team???
Btw, why don't we read more of your other authors' posts. Not that I am getting tired of you Hans, but I am looking forward to differing insights.
Whatever happened to Yasemin (and your relationship)?
Metin, you can live a free life when you clean up the past.
Regarding co-authors, Myrthe is terrible busy but will post this weekend. Derya just got a new job, so she had to slow down, but will post more here. Vassilio is addicted to Faceebook, but you will see some postings of him this week. Yasemin could not handle some critics and as a co administrator, before she left, she took all my administrator feautures away. So I can not change one thing on this blog.
Bea will be a co blogger here, soon with a Turkish Dutch since my Turkish Greek Cypriot friend don't want to participate in this endless discussion. His father is Turkish Cypriot, his mother Greek Cypriot. His father died of a broken heart: how the Turks threated him and his wife. They fled in 1976 to Athens but could not adapt. His father forbid the Turkish language at home. He died as a bitter man, accusing Turkey for their militarism and interfering...in his life and Cyprus.
Hans,
Maybe it's time for you to step out of the past and move into the 21st century . . .
Look around you and smell the beautiful flowers. Life is not that bad . . . and be grateful for what you have.
I know I am, regardless of my past . . .
Hans,
Is your goal to collect a gathering of anti-Turkish sentimentalists on your blog to pick in Turkey?
Because as a Turk, I may be entitled to do that to my people better than how the Turks will respect your feelings on the matter . . .
Maybe you should stick to all things Dutch . . .
metin, can you show me one anti-turkish posting here?
I don't live in the past and yes, I smell the roses...
is one of the co bloggers anti turkish, i dont think so..))
being critical doesnt mean anti...
Metin,
C'mon, I see a lot of different opinions here. Do we have to Turkify this blog?
No please.
That there are here bloggers from different countries means opinions from different point of the angle.
Have to sleep, will post later.
cheers
I wasn't suggesting that anti-Turkish was the same as anti-Turkish sentimentality . . .
I think we have to grasp the ability to be able to read between the lines sometimes . . .
I criticize Turkey as well . . . and I belong to the same group you are gathering here. And I'm not anti-Turkish as well.
Tufan, as for different opinions, are you referring to commenters, or the authors? I was referring to the authors that Hans is trying to gather . . .
:)
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